Former Ohio State DE Noah Spence transferring to Eastern Kentucky

Former Ohio State defensive end Noah Spence is transferring to Eastern Kentucky, Spence’s father told ESPN.com on Monday night.

The transfer originally was reported by John Owning of Football Insiders.

Spence played for Ohio State in 2012 and 2013 before being indefinitely suspended after two failed drug tests. Last December, Spence tested positive for ecstasy and was suspended for the 2014 Orange Bowl and the first two games of the 2014 season. A second positive test in the summer resulted in an indefinite suspension by the Big Ten. Spence’s application for reinstatement was denied in November and at that point, Spence said he planned to make himself eligible for the 2015 NFL draft.

However, Spence’s name was not on the official early entrant list released by the NFL on Monday and his father, Greg, told ESPN.com his son had looked at several FCS programs for continuing his education and football career.

"It's a great institution that has a wonderful family atmosphere, which he was used to from being at Ohio State," Greg Spence said. "Coach [Dean] Hood and his coaching staff are wonderful gentlemen that take care of the student-athlete as a whole person, on the field and off. Something Noah really needed as a continuum from what Coach [Urban] Meyer has been doing.

"He's extremely excited to play football again as well as grateful for another opportunity."

Spence was an All-Big Ten standout in 2013 with eight sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss. He was projected as a third-round pick, but Greg Spence said his son needed another year of college and needed continue his path to graduation in December.

"Noah needed another year of growth and maturity, especially regarding decision-making," Greg Spence told ESPN.com, "so he could have a long, sustained career at the next level."

For more Ohio State news, visit BuckeyeGrove.com.

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